Harper gave up a scholarship at Oregon, the team with the explosive offense and the No. 2 national ranking and all the Nike money, to play closer to home at Kansas State. When he left, Harper knew better than anyone what the Ducks were poised to accomplish.

"They're doing exactly what I thought they would," said Harper, a sophomore wide receiver. "When I left, I thought they were going to win the Pac-10 championship, and they won that right when I left."

No one will mistake K-State's offense for Oregon's high-flying attack, and Harper, a playmaker by trade, has just five catches for 50 yards this season.

Five catches and no complaints.

"I'm really happy to be back," Harper said.

Harper says he is ready for a breakout performance, and now would be a good time. Brodrick Smith, K-State's leading receiver, was carted to the locker room late in last week's loss to Nebraska with an apparent leg injury, meaning the Wildcats may have a void to fill Thursday when they face Kansas.

"I saw he got rolled up on, but I really don't know what happened," Harper said. "I didn't talk to him because everyone else was bombarding him with questions.

"He's a huge part of our offense. He's our leading receiver right now. It just means guys have to step up."

That applies to no one more than Harper, who drew his first start and caught his first touchdown against the Cornhuskers. Harper said his progress has been steady, even if it wasn't obvious to the naked eye.

"I've been feeling more comfortable," Harper said. "I didn't play a lot (against Central Florida), but most of the season I've been playing a lot. I could feel it coming on. It just feels like I'm playing football."

After playing in Oregon's high-octane spread offense, Harper needed time to adjust to K-State's more deliberate, ground-oriented attack.

From a wide receiver's perspective, though, the two teams aren't as different as they might appear.

"If you look at the offense, Oregon's is ground-based," Harper said. "They were like top-three in rushing when I was there. It's a little different, but you can compare them, too."

Harper, a prep star at Wichita Northwest, originally committed to K-State before signing with the Ducks. He contributed at quarterback and wide receiver as a true freshman, but homesickness drew him back to K-State.

"Me being in high school, I'd just turned 18," Harper said. "I thought I was grown. I thought I'd be all right living that far from home. I wasn't ready for it."

At K-State, Harper is back among family and friends. He is content with his role, too, though he would welcome the chance to be more involved.

"I want the ball a lot," Harper said. "Being a playmaker, you want the ball almost every play. That's kind of a selfish thing, but that's kind of what you want."

Harper may get his chance this week.

"We've got to make plays," Harper said, speaking for himself as much as anyone. "We've got to take advantage of opportunities."